The spectacular My Lady's Manor Iris, which Meg Page has captured in her elegant botanical portrait, has its own story. 

Breeding a stately hybrid iris allowed Philip Remare, who grew up in historic My Lady's Manor, to create a horticultural memento for the Tercentennial celebration of the 1713 deeding of the Baltimore County 10,000 acre plot.  Remare, who now resides in Oregon (which is a hotbed of Iris-hybridizing recognized worldwide), bred the pale lilac bearded iris out of Chapter 13 of Oregon's Iris Society. The iris was bred on the farm of Keith Keppel, a five-time winner of the prestigious Dykes medal.

To support the preservation work of the Manor Conservancy, Remare donated several My Lady's Manor Iris rhizomes to Ladew Topiary Gardens last year. They'll bloom this spring in Ladew's lush and diverse Iris Garden.

Thanks to Philip Remare and Keith Keppel for their creative support of our rural landscape.

Meg Page with My Lady's Manor Iris last spring

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Native Marylander Meg Page’s paintings redefine the passion and detail of classical botanicals and animal portraits for 21^st-century collectors. 

Meg describes research as "the fertilizer for botanical paintings," which is why we found her snapping pictures of the first My Lady's Manor Iris when it bloomed last spring in the garden of Manor Conservancy Board Member, Gloria Cameron.  It's also why we found Meg at Ladew Gardens last November stealing a moment to examine a My Lady's Manor Iris rhizome. After Meg's study, the rhizome was quickly and carefully reburied in the fertile soil of Ladew's Iris Garden. Meg's insistence on respecting the subject is also why we heard her questioning Ladew Iris guru, Sarah Oktavec, about the natural habitat of the iris she was preparing to paint. Page insists that botanical paintings of integrity must place the subject in an authentic setting. 

Meg's aim is to portray her subjects truthfully, retaining "the gravitas and spiritual energy and dignity of things in nature." 

A nationally acclaimed naturalist painter, Meg is a fine arts graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art. Her work as a freelance illustrator has been featured in Town and Country, Southern Living, Southern Accents, and Style magazines. For information about her watercolors and oils, exhibitions and commissions, please visit megpage.com.

The Manor Conservancy is very grateful to Meg for her generosity and her continued support of conservation. 

TMC Volunteers Brave Cold for Good Cause 

Yes, it was snowing on March 28 but that didn’t bother those participating in the half-marathon, relay, and Kids K. All the runners were racing to support Back on My Feet, a non-profit that uses the discipline of running to help homeless individuals transform their lives. 

TMC volunteers manned a water/gatorade stop at Wilson and Hicks Road and cheered the runners on. TMC was one of several sponsors that supported the great work of Back on My Feet.

The Manor Conservancy also provided a pamphlet picturing and describing the points of Interest along the race route, which included historic and environmental scenes, many in conservation easements. Thanks to everyone involved in the event.

Visit our new web site

Click here to view our newly redesigned web site. The site provides numerous resources for landowners interested in conserving their properties. The site also explains how the The Manor Conservancy works with landowners and community members to continue our mission of permanently protecting the natural, historic, agricultural and scenic resources of Baltimore County and Northern Harford County.  Click here to support the Conservancy's mission by becoming a member today.